When Jeanie was 15 her family moved to Kansas
Her brother was three, her dad sold eye glasses.
That big prairie moon lit up the night sky
Shining down on the corn so far from the noise and crime
Of New York, New York, New York.
When Jeanie first met Dan he was in one of her classes.
He was tall and quite pale, he had long dark eyelashes.
He was the only boy in school who payed her any attention.
It was on their 3rd date that he first mentioned
He thought he might be gay
His sister was screwing the preacher
His brother was molested
By the new gym teacher.
Dear Lord, he felt so lost.
Jeanie missed the bright lights of New York City.
She wished she was taller, and thinner, and pretty,
But she was so bright and funny, and normally friendly,
But it was hard for a city girl to fit in here out on the prairie
So far, so far, from New York.
The day Dan came out he said, Jeanie my friend,
I hate who I am, but I can no longer pretend.
Jean said, Dan I still love you. Just stay the way you are.
Be true to yourself and you'll shine like a star.
That big prairie moon lit up the night sky
Shining on the corn so far from the noise and crime
Of New York, New York, New York.
Some boys got hold of Dan after one of his classes.
They threw him to the ground and broke his eye glasses.
They said, live by God's word, friend.
We don't like fags here.
You better turn your life around
Or you better just disappear
To a place like Zoo York, Jew York, New York.
Dan said, I swear one day, Jean, we'll get out of Kansas
Find a place somewhere where people will accept us.
A place like New York, New York, New York.
Dan said, the stars up in the sky, they never end Jean
This little planet earth is like a grain of sand, dear Lord
I feel so lost.
credits
from Like a Stone (album),
track released October 2, 2013
words and music by J. Zheutlin
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